Mated To Magic (Stark Creek Shifters Book 1) by Barb Shuler (free ereaders .TXT) 📕

other. We praised each other and we kicked each other in the ass when needed; that’s what family did.

The trip to Calder Road didn’t take long. It seemed to be a quiet neighborhood, not many cars in the drives, no one wandering in the streets. That meant no witnesses.

I had Ty drive the block a couple of times, just to make sure. The two small houses that matched the address, both divided into duplexes, sat back off the road. There was an alleyway behind it which I planned to exploit. This was going to be a piece of cake. Ty stopped his truck directly behind the house and we climbed out.

“How are we doing this?” he asked.

“The easy way,” I replied.

I wasted no time checking out our surroundings before I made my way up the stairs and to the back door. I could hear someone moving around inside. I peered into the window and saw it was a kitchen. The man in question was there, only feet away from me now. I listened to make sure he was alone. There was only one heartbeat.

I waited, listening for a bit longer. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I did what anyone else would have done; I kicked in the door.

Josh stood at his cabinet, mouth agape as I strode in.

“What the fuck?! Who are you?!”

I watched as he got a good look at me. A look of recognition, then fear, crossed his features. Of course he knew who I was. I’d been in the bar many times now. He knew who I was to Mia. He knew his ass was dead. I saw it in his eyes.

I said nothing as I moved toward him. He snapped out of his stupor and tried to run, but I stopped him with a booted kick to the knee. His head slammed into the wall as he fell forward, which knocked him out cold.

Ty cursed from the doorway and I looked back at him. He scowled at the broken door and frame. I shrugged and moved to Josh. I needed to get him out of here before someone decided to step outside. Bending down, I grabbed his arms and flung him over my shoulder. I made it past Ty and walked the unconscious sack of shit out of the house, down the steps, and through the back gate. I unceremoniously dumped him in the back of Ty’s truck, not caring one bit if I broke or bruised something. I opened the toolbox, pulled out the tarp, and draped it over him. I dropped a heavy wrench on one side of the flap and a pair of Ty’s boots on the other. That would keep it from blowing off as we went down the road.

“That was subtle,” Ty muttered as we climbed back into the cab of the truck.

I was in no mood for subtlety. Not when he—Josh—was responsible for getting my girl hurt. He was going to regret that choice.

The trip to the pack’s land would be short in comparison to us leaving from home to get there, but it wasn’t fast enough for me. I was ready to shed my skin. My muscles vibrated with the need to shift and run, but our prey had some explaining to do first. I had to try and hold my wolf in check. If not, I knew Ty and Kody would make sure the hunt went without any witnesses or issues.

Kody’s truck was already on site when Ty pulled into the small parking area. A grin pulled at my lips. Time to get this thing started.

“Get him out of the truck for me, please,” I requested. Ty nodded and got out of the truck, leaving me in the cab. I needed a minute to calm the wolf. My fingertips tingled as I fought back the change. I needed to make this hunt worth the effort. I wanted answers, but I knew once my wolf was set free, the asshole’s time would be up.

“So…you’re the dickhead that got the boss’s girl hurt. I hope you can run fast.” Kody’s booming laugh had me shaking my head as I stepped out of the truck and followed them silently up the path and into the woods. I didn’t want the chance anyone could just come by. We had a policy. No witnesses.

“Get off of me! What the fuck are you doing?!” Josh screamed as Ty dragged him up the path. When he stopped, I stalked closer. Ty had Josh’s arms pinned behind him. He was trying to jerk himself free, not that it was really an option. Ty wouldn’t let him go until I gave that order. All Josh would do is end up dislocating something. Not that I cared.

“Why did you allow someone into the bar without doing your job?”

“Fuck you!”

I took his jaw in my hand and squeezed. My fingers bit into his skin until my nails, which were starting to extend, drew blood.

“She deserves it. Mouthy bitch.”

“Ty,” I said, stepping back. He released Josh and with a shove, he pushed him up the path.

“You’re about to die; I hope you burn in hell.”

“I did what I was paid to do! I didn’t hurt anyone.”

His heart was racing. The loud thumping spurred my wolf on. As he stood there pleading, I let the change take me. Both Ty and Kody flanked me.

Josh, the fucking pansy, pissed himself before he ran up the path. Ty’s hand in the scruff of my neck held me back. My paws clawed at the earth and I waited. We could hear him clumsily crashing through the woods. A growl escaped me and Ty let go.

My body propelled forward. I knew he and Kody would be right behind me. Their silent footfalls were something I was used to.

I snarled when I saw Josh, who was trying to get through the underbrush to reach the river. My body extended as I leapt, tackling him to the ground. We rolled, his body slamming into the ground.